On february 21st, I went to see the gastroenterologist. Well, after talking and such about my symptoms, he wanted to take some blood samples. For things like celiac and my thyroid levels. I usually get blood drawn at a lab, not a doctor’s office. Anyway, I must warn you that I have a very bad case of ocd. Along with that comes hypochondria. I’m a very paranoid person in general. Anyway, I watched everything the nurse did as she took the blood. From getting new gloves, wiping the antibacterial thing on my arm and stuff like that. Now at the lab I usually go to. Their needles are different looking. they’re a bit bigger with a butterfly type thing on them. And they always get them out of packages. I’m not sure if they’re sitting in a little crate/plastic container thing. They might be. Anyway, at this place, the needles were much smaller, and they had different colored caps on them (blues, purples, greens, etc…) they were sitting in a plastic crate thing too but they weren’t in
a package. Do you think she could’ve used a dirty needle? I just got an HIV test done in december, got my results on january 17th (negative). I always overanalyze people and their actions towards me. I felt like the nurse didn’t like me that much. I even asked her if they share needles between people. She and another nurse laughed a little and said that nobody’s ever asked that before. The joking she said “Oh yeah, I stick one person after another, then I stick myself”. We were laughing and stuff and I watched her get the needle out of the case/crate thing, and take the cap off. But it was in a package like I’m used to. Are needles different at each place? Do needles always have to packaged before use? Or do some places take them out so they don’t waste any time? Thanks!
I also remember seeing her throw the needle away in the trashcan next to her after she was done taking my blood.
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What’s the question?
Weren’t in what? What is your question?
same here wot is ur question .
Don’t worry it’s normal, I don’t think that one doctor’s office was created to screw you over. You’ll be fine.
If your question is whether you trust the validity of the gastroenterologist’s office, then all I can recommend is that you go to your nearest emergency room hospital and ask them for their opinion.
I can’t blame your suspicions given the bad news lately from medical malpractice cases popping up…i.e. amputating the wrong foot, etc.
Always get second and third opinions, and never trust anything but your own sound judgment.
I learned from my grandmother that YOU are your best doctor.
Only you know how you feel.
Me…I feel great and usually feel this great because I practice preventative measures to keep me in shape and healthy.
Would be a good idea for you to do the same.
I know it seems as thou you’re over analyzing the situation but trust me its a great trait because you’ll pick up on things others wouldn’t think twice about.
Most needles are packaged indivually and sterilzed. But it’s normal for the needles to be out of the packages. I know this because i’ve given shots to other before with insulin. Needles do some in big bags with only caps on, the ones I use are orange caps, and they’re sterilzed with caps on.
The needles are bigger because they usually need larger amount blood as they often get requests for lots of tests. The different colored caps are for different types of tests. Blue caps are citrated tubes for doing clotting tests, purple caps are EDTA tubes for doing blood counts, The red caps are for serum separations. Serum is used for testing biochemistry and immunoassays (celiac, thyroid tests etc.) soory can’t remember what the green caps are used for.The needles are sterilized and sealed in plastic packaging for safety and are for single use only. The nurse uses gloves for both your safety and his/her safety and the antibacterial wipes are used to sterilise the skin in the area the needle goes in prevent any skin bacteria getting into your bloodstream. At least you can rest assured about your blood tests as they seem to be doing the right things. Wish you all the best with your OCD.
Cheers
P
I seriously doubt they would re-use needles, that would be illegal. They are probably packaged differently. From my experience the needs at the blood place are in packages but the needles at my doctor arent.
The smaller needles are actually better, when in hospital they used butterfly clips which I thought were a good thing but they have normal needles much smaller and therefore less painful.
I’m sure you have nothing to worry about and all the best with your tests.
Your question is a little strange I think. Of course they don’t use dirty needles/butterflies to take blood from people. Each one was probably opened already to save time doing it over and over again.
Not ALL nurses are psychopathic, homicidal maniacs you know.
I think you are clearly in need of counselling!! You have over analysed this to epic proportions.
I dont care how bad health problems have got in hospitals and surgerys no nurse or doctor would EVER use a needle twice or draw blood with a dirty needle. All surgical implements are bought in from different suppliers based on best price at time for quantity purchased so the make/style would change on a reasonably regular basis. The colour of them is one specific manufacturers way of grading the size of the needles for quick visual recognition. (for example, the blues are thinner than the greens). Different nurses/docs may choose to use different thicknesses, even for the same job. Just whatever they feel the most comfortable with. I prefer greens. They may be thicker but draw blood a lot quicker so gets the job done in less time.
Stop stressing. Thats kills more people in the world than ANYTHING else.
Having said all that, if you were unlucky enough to get some sicko nurse (aka Beverley Allitt) whose only thoughts in life are to cunningly murder as many people as possible, then you are kinda screwed and I apologise for saying you have over analysed this and I suggest you get your affairs in order!! XX [**JOKE**]
Relax. You are fine. There are lots of different types of needles. The ones that your facility used sound like angio-caths, which is what they use to start IV’s. They can also be used to draw blood. The colored caps indicated what size the needle is. At my facility, pink is a 22 gauge, blue is a 20 gauge, green is an 18 gauge and so on. As long as the lid remains in place, the needle is still completely sterile when it enters your vein. Lots of phlebotomists (peope who draw blood) keep their supplies in a little caddy. Sometimes they take the needles out of the package to save time. The needle you are refering to isn’t actually a needle. It’s a catheter, which is a small flexible tube that is placed in your arm and allows the blood to flow through. It’s underneath the needle. the needle is used to puncture your arm, and then it’s purpose is done. They slide the needle out, and the catheter stays in place. One the needle is out, a saftey device is engaged so that the phlebotomist doesn’t stick her or himself. How the saftey device works varies from needle to needle, but once it engages, it somehow covers the tip so that no one else can be poked. The saftey device cannot be disengaged, so there’s no way that she could have used that same needle on someone else. Once the needle has been removed from the catheter, there’s no way to get it back on, and there’s no way to use the same catheter because it can’t get into your arm with out a needle. All that being said, I think the nurse handled your situation poorly when she said (and I hope your realize she was being sarcastic) that she used the same needle on all her patients. She should have told you the truth. Most people know that needles used in facilities are clean, and she probably didn’t know how to respond. She should have explained to you that they were clean, and reassured you that you weren’t going to get anything. Seriously, you are fine. I’m sure the needles were clean.
I will humor you.
you are paranoid and really obsessive compulsive!
kidding aside…..
What she used is called a butterfly needle. You can get blood samples with either butterfly needles or syringe needle. If she opened a packet, that means that the needle is sterile and has not been used. Used needles are usually thrown in a special RED container. They call it the sharp containers.
So rest assured you got a clean needle!